Illinois Salmonella Outbreak Associated with Papayas Sickens 17 in Chicago and Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will and Winnebago Counties
The Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting 17 cases of Salmonella Agona in Illinois, which are linked to a multistate Salmonella outbreak believed to be associated with papayas from Mexico that were distributed by Agromod Produce, Inc., a distributor in McAllen, Texas. Of the 17 cases in Illinois, eight hospitalizations have been reported. Cases have been reported in the following areas: Chicago-5, Cook-suburban-4, DuPage-4, Kane-1, Lake-1, Will-1 and Winnebago-1.
"We are seeing more and more cases where produce contaminated with Salmonella is making people sick," said Fred Pritzker, lead attorney for our Salmonella personal injury cases. "We are here to make sure companies like Agromod Produce are held accountable."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are using DNA analysis of Salmonella bacteria to identify cases of illness that may be part of this outbreak, which has infected a total of 97 people in 23 states between January 1 and July 18, 2011.
Agromod Produce, Inc. of McAllen, Texas is voluntarily recalling all Blondie, Yaya, Mañanita, and Tastylicious brand papayas distributed nationwide and to Canada through retail stores and wholesalers prior to July 23, 2011. Recent sampling by the FDA found the outbreak strain in two papaya samples collected at Agromod Produce, Inc. in Texas and at the U.S. border destined for Agromod Produce, Inc. The shipments that tested positive with the outbreak strain were not distributed in the U.S.
